8/10/2015

I came to the restaurant for different occasions in the past . The last time I was here was about a week ago because my sister and her family were visiting me from Poland.

We were seated promptly by a very friendly host when we got there. We ordered grilled calamari and mussels with marinara sauce for appetizers, and we ordered a few pasta dishes, risotto with grilled beef steak, eggplant parmesan, white fish dish for our main dishes. Even though the portion of each dish was huge but we finished almost all the food on our table. Everything was so good.

A friend of mine and I ordered a glass of house Cabernet for each of us, and it tasted much better than I expected. It was smooth and fruity but it still has body. They were also very generous with the amount served in the glass.

I can't wait to go back! Maybe I will sit at a table either at the back patio or at their outdoor seats in the front if weather permits.

8/10/2015

This place is one of those places that you must stop by and grab a bite to eat. Have lunch, dinner whatever you choose.
 We stopped at topo's after spending the after noon enjoying some recreational activities at the beach.
 I'd have to say that I am very pleased with this restaurant, as well for their food.
 There was a 30min wait. Which I'd have to say is worth it once you try their food.

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  Topo Gigio : )

  Topo Gigio : )
• 

6/14/2015

Best Italian food in all the city. Best waiters around- Alex and Ceasar are our favorite!
Favorite dishes include the petti de pollo, pasta arrabiata, and eggplant parm. Really can't go wrong with any of the pasta dishes though. Fresh sea food as well.
BEST. CAPRESE SALAD. EVER. Real buffalo mozzarella.
Over all amazing. Family place. In love with it.

6/14/2015

Favorite restaurant in Chicago. Food is amazing!!!!! On Saturdays they have a pasta with a lobster tail.... Best meal of my life maybe.

Cons: it's always busy so you'll have to wait for a table, even if you have reservations. And it's also really loud.

2/20/2015

I'm one of the many Yelpers who dream of doing half-stars.  Topo Gigio is a little better than a 3, but not quite a 4.  I love the venetian plaster walls, and the classic Italian restaurant decor.  And who wouldn't love a theme restaurant that pays homage to an early 60's Italian mouse puppet.  I was the first one who arrived from my party of 5.  When I told the hostess I had a reservation she was surly, and can I say bitchy because the rest of my party hadn't arrived yet. Hostess lady, you're supposed to be welcoming, not like the freakin' troll who controls passage over the bridge.  Be nice!  

Anyway, I loved the house Chianti and was pleased with the generous pour.  The bread came to the table piping hot and there was also a hot whole grain bread in the  basket.  I love that because then I can justify eating more carbs because it's "healthier".  I had grilled portobello with polenta which was really pretty delicious.  The peach sorbet was peachy and refreshing with nice chunks of peaches in it.  My pals got a variety of dishes from black pasta to soup with clam shells floating around in it.  Everyone seemed to like what they ordered.  I seriously wasn't paying attention because I was busy tending to the Chianti.  

I also have to say that the service was excellent.  We let our server know that we had a play to catch across the street at the Red Orchid.  The service was perfectly executed to accommodate our schedule.  Overall the experience here was really pretty good.  I think I just got a bit jaded because of the snarly, snarky attitude of the hostess.  Sometimes those first impressions are hard to shake.

7/6/2015

Exceptional Italian restaurant, the flavors are delicately balanced, rich and full of flavor. This is a must have. Conchiglie Mediterranea is terrific, the scallops are perfectly cooked and there's the perfect amount of spice, not overpowering but enough to notice. The eggplant parmesan is one of the best around. Perfectly breaded so you can still taste the eggplant, the right amount of sauce and cheese. Not too much that you're overpowered but enough that you get all the flavors and enjoyment necessary. We had another linguine pasta, I don't see it on the menu listed here, jumbo prawns and capers, red sauce, it's simply to die for! One of the best made pasta dishes I've had. Perfect flavors! Finally, Joe's Salad is a must have! What a treat!! Avocado, potato, tomato, red onion, buffalo mozzarella and aged parmesan, artichoke, capers and just enough vinaigrette . Highly recommended!

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  Street seating at Topo Gigio Ristorante

  Street seating at Topo Gigio Ristorante
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  Prawns, zucchini, capers and the perfect balance with the red sauce. My favorite dish!

  Prawns, zucchini, capers and the perfect balance with the red sauce. My favorite dish!
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  Conchiglie Mediterranea...what a find! Just enough spice, terrific scallops, perfectly cooked, and great prawns and clams. Yum!

  Conchiglie Mediterranea...what a find! Just enough spice, terrific scallops, perfectly cooked, and great prawns and clams. Yum!
• See all photos from Christopher N. for Topo Gigio Ristorante

7/28/2015

the only word I can think of is "basic" very bland dishes we had. Then I thought, maybe it's the gold coast clientele and their older people that are use to these non-flavored dishes they've been use to for years.  very disappointed I wasted a lot of money here. we should have known when we noticed all the nick knacks on the walls, especially the mice statues all over the place, very bazaar, like some little child decorated the place.. seem dirty too. strange place..

7/24/2015

What an excellent restaurant! The atmosphere is warm and fun and the food is absolutely fantastic. I was so happy with how eager they were to accommodate their pasta dishes to fit my vegetarian diet.

12/4/2014

Topo Gigio is a hidden gem in Old Town! They're very old school Italian, authentic and reasonably priced. The pastas are one of my favorites in the city, and they have a penchant for making incredible sauces. Here are some of my highlights:

Garganelli - handmade pasta with very tasty sausage
Conchiglie - simple but far from plain; never knew shrimps and scallops in tomato basil sauce could taste so good
Spaghetti Ai Frutti Di Mare - marinara sauce is rich with seafood flavor, almost like the calamari, mussels, clams and sea scallops melted into it!

Portions are generous for one person, but I usually enjoy my meal so much, I have to resist stuffing myself.  Excellent service and food during the many times I've visited. I would not hesitate to recommend Topo Gigio.

7/17/2015

The food is prepared pretty well overall but this place is as pretentious as it gets. And the inside manager is one of the biggest dickheads I've ever come across in the service industry period. Shocked by his poor attitude and rudeness. Not spending my money there because of his poor treatment of us-I've literally never been so insulted. This guy ushered me outside and dropped some major "rules" on me like I was some brat trying to skip the line. He kept saying "you should know the rules since you've been coming here before"???? Sorry I didn't read my topo Gigio manual before I left my apt. It's also sweltering hot outside so I went inside to get the scoop-obvious hoping for a table inside but more than willing to be out. All he had to do was be a little nicer about it, like use basic customer service skills and people skills, and we'd been spending some loot there right now.

2/14/2015

Very yummy fresh food with reasonable price , service are excellent .

And dont miss the dessert especially the daily fresh tiramisu

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  Trimisu yummmmy

  Trimisu yummmmy

4/8/2015

I will be having dinner at this restaurant this evening, I expect it to be quite good as it was a recommendation.  Yesterday I messaged them to secure a reservation for tonight 4/8 through Yelp as that is an option Yelp offers for this particular restaurant. I hadn't heard from them they so I just phoned to make sure I had a table. As it turns out the restaurant does not follow or pay any mind to Yelp or the messaging feature. So heads up to Yelp. Perhaps you ought to be sure that businesses you suggest messaging are actually are participating in your program. I spoke to a very nice fellow who confirmed a reservation for me. So to all who are looking to be in touch with Topo Gigio, call them. Don't bother with the Yelp messaging

As a follow up to my earlier remarks I can now say having had my dinner experience at Topo Gigio that it is a meal not to be missed. Wonderful food, exceptional service and a lively electric atmosphere. This is an old family owned Restaurant and when a place is packed on a Wednesday night at 8pm, you know you're in the right place. Vince and Angela could not have been nicer or more welcoming!

7/14/2015 Updated review

This is not about my second time here because I never went back. But someone we knew also went to this place few weeks ago and said similar things about the hostess. We found this funny.

6/15/2014

I came here with my parents before a second city show and I'm so glad I chose this place!  This is probably the best italian food I've ever had.  I made reservations for a Friday night a few days beforehand, and we got our table right when we arrived.  We decided to sit inside, but there's also a patio outside and a bar outside as well that a lot of people were at.

We started off with the grilled calamari with wine sauce, it's a little more chewy than your typical fried calamari but the flavor of the sauce was very tasty.   Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and was able to give us great recommendations.  We shared the filet mignon and the shrimp pesto pasta.  They actually split both dishes for us on two separate places which was very considerate.  

The filet was perfectly cooked, the mushroom sauce was tasty and not too salty, and the dish had a big helping of spinach and tasty potatoes.  If they had been mashed potatoes that would have been more epic, but these were still good.   For the shrimp pasta, it was loaded with jumbo shrimp and  a TON of pesto.  It was extremely filling and we were able to take enough for a whole meal home.  

For what you get this place is priced just right, not too expensive and I loved the atmosphere.  There are also really cool pictures of famous actors & politicians that have dined here (Bill Clinton, George Clooney and Jay Leno to name a few).

This is my favorite restaurant I've been to in old town.  Will definitely be back!

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  Filet with mushroom sauce and potatoes

  Filet with mushroom sauce and potatoes
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  Shrimp pesto pasta

  Shrimp pesto pasta
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  Grilled calamari with wine sauce

  Grilled calamari with wine sauce

3/3/2015

First time dining at this restaurant and it was suprisingly good. The ambiance is very welcoming and the staff is really attentive.

We started the night with a bottle of wine, which are very affordable. I was surprised to see that I was not looking at $70/$120 bottles of wine. I wanted to order everything off the menu, but my date did not eat seafood.. "bummer"... We ended up ordering the caprese salad and the carpaccio appetizers. They were both fantastic.

For main course, I ordered the grilled scampi & sea scallops, and my date ordered the veal santimbocca. They were equally good.

5/12/2015

I ventured out here last Friday night with four girlfriends - without a reservation(!) - and we were seated with very little wait time.  The hostess who sat us was very rude, but our waiter for the evening was great and definitely made up for it.  

For an appetizer, we split the Portobello E Polenta - which we decided was "just ok".  But we were all pleased with our main pasta dishes - which, by they way, are served al dente.  For vegetarian dishes, I definitely recommend the Eggplant alla Parmigiana (with a side of pasta), or the Campanelle alla Norma (which has a bit of a kick to it).  

I have been here many times - it's perfect for a date spot, family dinners, or a night out with your girlfriends.  The food (and wine!!) is consistent and delicious.

6/14/2015

Let me start by saying I am not a big fan of going out to eat Italian food. It is just not that exciting to me and I tend to leave feeling like I could have made the dish better at home. That said, I actually loved Topo Gigio! I went with a group of 8 people and made a last minute reservation. The waiter was a really pleasant and humorous Italian gentleman who was very attentiveness. We ordered a wide variety of items including the pesto pasta with  shrimp, the seafood pasta in marinara, spaghetti and meatballs, caprese salad, grilled scallops, and a few other items as well. I did not hear any complaints about the food. They were very generous with the seafood and the dishes were overall quite flavorful. The pasta portions were definitely large as well. However, like most Italian restaurants, the dishes were very heavy and caloric. I definitely needed a nap afterwards. Nonetheless, I would come back here again if I was ever in the mood for some Italian.

9/5/2014

It's got mice! Lots of them! On the walls, on the tables, on the floor.  Jerry Seinfeld doesn't seem to mind.  Neither do Bill Clinton and James Earl Jones. Smiling post-dinner photographs of these and multiple other celebrities adorn a wall attesting to their satisfaction with the restaurant.

The mice are of the cute cartoon variety featured in the Italian TV show Topo Gigio.  The restaurant is named after that show and the mice schtick is exuberantly embraced.

Topo Gigio features an outdoor garden, sidewalk seating, and a covered outdoor bar in addition to their indoor dining room and bar. Though garden and sidewalk seating cannot be reserved, when we arrived with our reservation for the dining room we were offered the option of sitting outdoors.

My dining companion, who gravitates towards salmon pastas at Italian restaurants, claims the Farfalle ai Due Salmoni is the best in the city.  The bow tie pasta is served with two types of salmon, Norwegian Smoked Salmon and North Pacific Salmon, in a tomato cream sauce. My Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare was very enjoyable too.  The pasta is mixed with calamari, mussels, clams, and sea scallops in a marinara sauce.

The service was efficient albeit a tad perfunctory.  We got the feeling the waiter had been at his job for many, many years.  Topo Gigio has been around for several decades. With the quality of food they continue to serve, it's easy to see why the restaurant has become an institution in Chicago.

11/14/2014

This is more like 3.5.

As someone who leans toward Asian food than Italian food, my ears perk up when I hear this place. I've been here twice and I have enjoyed the food and service to  recommend it to people. I came here once on a date and once as a group.

Though I don't care for pasta (it's bland with carb-y caloric), I remember liking their Sausage Orecchiette  - it was in a creamy vodka sauce with peas (and I abhor peas). Their octopus apps were good. Their food is generally flavorful. the 2nd time I went, I had their special one night: grilled bass - very well cooked. the waiter was nice to enough to exchange the mash potatoes for spinach.

Reservations are tough to get and the place gets packed fast for dinner. I don't recommend sitting in the covered (out door area) in the winter. your feet still get cold even with the heat lamps around.

7/6/2015

I took my family here before a Second City show and we all had a great time. I can't think of anything that I'd like for them to improve. I had the conchiglie alla sarda and it was plate-licking good.

7/28/2015

We had a very large part in the outdoor garden last Thursday. Service was impeccable (as well as patient)! Wonderful food.

10/19/2014

This may not be a progressive, overly creative Tuscan restaurant, but what they do, they do well.  When we walked in the aromas from the kitchen just felt like a warm hug on a chilly evening.  The charming atmosphere, complete with mice mascots, just provided a comfortable and subdued vibe.

We started with the prosciutto di Parma with mozzarella di Bufala and roasted peppers.  With quality ingredients such as these, there is not much to mess up.  Each was left to shine in it's own spotlight.  It was delicious.

Entrees included one of the night's specials - pumpkin ravioli with a pink sauce, home made spaghetti with a porcini, sausage and parmigiano reggiano ragu, and veal scalloppini with capers, lemon and wine.   We all sampled each other dishes and there was no dissenters.  Everyone was very happy with their meals.  For dessert, we shared the tiramisu.  Although light and creamy, it was a bit too mellow taste wise.  The texture was more prominent than the flavor.  I kind of felt like I put  a nozzle of a whipped cream container to my mouth.  Lots of fluff.

There are so many good Italian restaurants in Chicago, so a repeat visit may not come soon, but Topo Gigio definitely qualifies as a contender to keep in the back pocket when we crave some hearty fare in a comfortable environment.

3/16/2014 Updated review

I've decided that this is my favorite restaurant in Chicago!

I decided to bring my mom here after having a really good first experience with my boyfriend. My mom and I came in and I was just as impressed as the first time. My mom ordered a seafood linguini and I ordered the rack of lamb. Both were absolutely delicious. I can't get over the quality of food this restaurant is able to produce. The rack of lamb was so tender and juicy and the linguini was probably the best that I have ever had. For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu and it was just as good as the first time. I'm constantly blown away by how amazing this restaurant is and I would highly suggest it to anyone and everyone!

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  Caprese salad

  Caprese salad

6/29/2015

One of my favorite Italian places in Chicago! Have never been disappointed with a meal here. Even my dad, who is really hard to please, was impressed with his chicken dish. Highly recommend!

7/13/2014

Fantastic Italian restaurant, the food is so good you may want to eat it every day. Whether you are seated inside in the dining room or outside in the garden, the atmosphere is always pleasant and comfortable to be in. There is a fully stocked bars and an extensive  wine list with a lot of very fine Italian wines. In addition to the bar they have a very knowledgeable and personable bartender who knows how to interact with people. It is important to make a reservation before coming to the restaurant in colder weather , Topo Gigio is a very popular place to go. In the warm weather the outdoor garden and sidewalk seating is very popular, you might have to wait 30 minutes because they don't take reservations.
Entering the dining room guests are greeted with an array of antipasto selections on platters. In addition you can order appetizers off the menu. The portions are large and entrées come with house salads. I enjoy starting with the " Capesante Al Vino Bianco scampi and sea scallops, sautéed with mushrooms, chardonnay & lemon sauce." In addition I enjoy the fried calamari, it is always crisp and tasty. My favorite pasta is the "Rigatoni Al Filo Di Fumo rigatoni in pomodoro sauce, with pancetta, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, topped with pecorino cheese," it is probably very fattening but it is wonderful. Everything. I have had has been perfect, the fish seasoned just right, the steak tender and flavorful, even the vegetable are amazing. Deserts and coffee are fantastic many Italian specialties.
The service is great the staff is always very pleasant and efficient. The only downfall is the popularity of the restaurant in the warm months has many people waiting along 30 minutes to be seated outside , along with the regular people who sit at the bar, it can get a little noisy. Even considering this fact I have given Topo  Gigio five stars for outstanding food and service.

6/26/2015

No need to look for better Italian cuisine in Chicago after finding this gem. Romantic for a first or last date. Literally everything on the menu is delicious and the service compliments the food with intelligent servers who know about the dishes and add to the appeal. I know this is a short review but you have to experience this place to truly have good Italian in Chicago.

3/26/2015

The bartenders know you, know what you like to drink and the food is always on par with higher star restaurants! The food, ambiance and liquor is par excellence.

Cannot recommend it enough!

6/14/2015

Found this restaurant on Yelp before going to see a Second City show only a few blocks away. What a fantastic choice! Everyone at our table got something different, and everyone was extremely satisfied. Even as an Italian myself, I have had a wide sampling, and the Eggplant Parmesan was, I think, the best I've ever had! Even as a resident of the suburbs, we will make sure we end up back here in the future. Highly recommended!

8/25/2014

Last Monday night (08/18), after we laughed our heads off at The Second City improv show, my boyfriend and I decided on Italian and chose this place. It was rather empty inside, which was bit troubling to me, but then again, it was a Monday night, and well past the normal dinner hour, so there you go.

I ordered a glass of red wine and eggplant Parmesan. I was not prepared for the amount of food presented to me...holy cow. I like eggplant, but man, this was huge. I did my best with it, but it was simply too much. The texture and the flavor were very good, and the cheese on top didn't overpower the dish. I also liked the tomato sauce on it; I could tell it was a homemade recipe and not something from a jar, which sometimes happens in so-called "Italian" restaurants.

The manager of the place was very nice and kept stopping by our table to chat with us; it turned out he worked in Hoboken for a while before heading out to Chicago, and we traded stories on baseball team loyalties. It was a fun time.

If we ever find ourselves in or around Wells Street in Chicago again, I wouldn't mind coming by here again.

8/11/2014

On first bite, Topo was delicious. Portions were big. And many of their plates had housemade features on them...which is pretty great. But some things left a little to be desired...

We started our meal with the baked clams. First off, this dish only comes with 6 mini clams but a whole lot of onions...and another thing to keep in mind is that 75% of the clam was breading. Soggy breading. Not impressed at all. We then followed it up with the homemade chicken and rice soup. You could definitely tell it was homemade...it was light, but flavorful. Very delicious in my opinion.  

For my entree, I was deciding between the tortellini and the clam linguine...ultimately deciding on the linguine. I like noodles, what can I say. And Topo definitely doesn't skimp on them either. Nor do they on the clams. But I have a feeling they mix canned clams with fresh ones. Why? Well I had about 10 clams in shell on my pasta, but I also had a mountain of clam meat atop my pasta as well...and that kind of took away from the dish overall. I would have rather had a lighter pasta with less clams where I could really taste the freshness and sweetness from just the clams in shell. But what I got was a clam heavy pasta with more clam juice flavor then clam.

In terms of service, our server...actually, the only server in the back patio, spent a good amount of time playing with his smart phone on the back corner. All he did was take orders then go back to his corner. Runners did the rest. He even got mad when the welcoming hostess tried to sit a party near the back, next to his hideaway. He immediately re-sat them in an area closer to the front.

What was he trying to hide?

But anyways, if we are going for food alone - it's alright.

7/10/2014

I can't believe I have never been here!!!

We ventured here on a Sunday evening a couple of weeks ago with a few friends.  We were all starving.  Rudy was our bartender and waiter.  He was AMAZING!!!  He fixed our wobbly table, got us our food, gave us suggestions, and kept drinks and water in front of us at all times while also taking care of every other table and bar patron.  He was also very friendly and funny.

We had such a good time that we decided to hang for a while after dinner and ended up closing the place up.  

We will definitely be back.  The food was amazing and the service was top notch thanks to Rudy!!!

6/14/2015

During the art fair yesterday, we were enjoying a Starbucks coffee on the sidewalk, considering places to have dinner. Due to the coffee being overly full, we poured a bit out on the sidewalk so it would not spill. Immediately, a bouncer grabs the full cup and tosses it in the garbage. No words, nothing. No apology. We were appalled that this happened. When we asked to enter to talk to a manager they wouldn't let us enter. Will never be entering again nor will anybody we know. Horrible customer service.

4/24/2015

Extremely rude treatment from the hostess.  If not for the service recovery efforts of Tony, I would not have stayed.  

The hostess first chastised us for not having a reservation and then said:  if you don't want this table, I'll give it to someone else.  She should.  I just don't want it that bad.  I had to check the sign to make sure I wasn't at Ed Debevics.  

My fiance and I met at Topo.  But, I'll struggle to ever want to go back.

The food tonight was very good tonight and it's hard to beat the romantic ambiance.   But over the years the food has ranged from amazing to downright horrifying.  Inconsistent performance (don't order the mussels)..anyone can make a great meal once (or twice..the eggplant parm).  Buyer beware.  Consider eating at home and having an appetizer and drink at the bar...and ask for Tony.

7/15/2014

Have been here twice with my husband and another couple and can't recommend it enough. Definitely the place to go if you have friends/family visiting and want to try authentic Chicago Italian.

Both times I've tried the calamari, once fried and once sautéed, and both times perfection. I hate chewy calamari (and won't eat the squidy looking ones) but both preparations of this were spot on.  They have a wide variety of salads to choose from as well. The last time we went, my husband and I split a Caesar salad which was still HUGE for two people. If you get an appetizer, split a salad and get your own entrée that is definitely enough food.

There aren't a large variety of vegetarian pastas to choose from, but they can make almost any vegetarian. The first time I tried the Tortellini alla Panna and had them omit the pancetta so it was just the tortellini with mushrooms and sweet peas, and of course cream and cheese. I don't normally like peas but this was very good! The second time I tried the Rigatoni which was basic and delicious; real pasta, not something dressed up too much.

The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful in making suggestions. Will come back over and over.

12/8/2014

If you're in the area and are in the mood for Italian, it's worth stopping in. That said, if there's a super long wait, you might want to stop by another time. Compared to other similar Italian restaurants in the city, it was just okay--pretty standard; nothing overly unique. However, the ambiance was enjoyable.

12/15/2013

One of the most underrated Italian spots in all of Chicago! This is classic Italian and everything is spot on.

Homemade pasta is killer! Loved the sausage pasta especially. Grilled octopus was cooked to perfection.

Great service but they were sold out of the tiramisu :( bummed!!

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  Dolce de latte cheesecake

  Dolce de latte cheesecake
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  Unreal homemade pasta with sausage

  Unreal homemade pasta with sausage
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  Eggplant parm

  Eggplant parm
• See all photos from Rebecca N. for Topo Gigio Ristorante

6/14/2015

I have gone to this place for 10 years and read the reviews online about the hostess and owner and couldn't believe it until I experienced it myself.  My friend and I went to have dinner - we were on the patio which is self seating.  A table got up that was by the heater and we moved - the hostess comes over and says we have to move that we can't sit there she has someone who is a party of 5.   We had already been sitting there - I looked up at her - and she put her face and hand in my face and said "don't even" I said excuse me? and she screamed "you heard me - I said Don't even!" I said I'm a customer who the hell are you talking to like that?  She started screaming and throwing her hands around like she was on the street in the south side.  I asked for the owner - the owner was 100 times worse - came out screaming and cursing and calling me a fat bitch and that I should leave.  I will never give another dime to such a degenerate group of people that have no respect for their customers.  There are too many great Italian places in Chicago - whom have class and respect - if you want to be treated like you live in the Ghetto.  Please make a reservation.

5/15/2015

I was looking for a place to take my parents for lunch. They love italian food and they usually are very picky about it. Guess what? I hit the right place. The menu is really good and everything we ordered was great. The ambience is really nice and cozy. Prices are great. Enjoy!

5/28/2014

It's a really crowded place in a nice neighborhood. I got the seafood pasta (forgot the actual name), but it had shrimps and scallops. The portion size is nice, but the sauce wasn't too great. It was wayyy too salty for me and the seafood taste lingered more than it should. The salmon pasta dish had salmon already cut into small pieces, which makes it less messy to eat. Other pasta dishes were okay, too. This place is decent, but not phenomenal. I can say I tried it, but this isn't a place I would opt to come back after trying it.

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  Vegetarian pasta...also forgot the name but it was good!

  Vegetarian pasta...also forgot the name but it was good!
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  Seafood pasta..forgot the name

  Seafood pasta..forgot the name
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  Lemon sorbet

  Lemon sorbet

7/6/2015

I went there with a group of 12 people for a friend's birthday. The place was perfect for the event: nice atmosphere, friendly waiter and my sea food pasta was excellent.

4/25/2015

If you want to base your opinion of the restaurant by their bread, then this place is amazing! The pasta dishes are superb and the service was excellent. The overall experience was something I'd gladly have again!

1/3/2015

Yummy food, especially the pasta! Nice warm atmosphere, great service. We loved it. Great for a group, festive, nice lighting.

• 

  Yummy food, especially the pasta! Nice atmosphere, great service. We loved it.

  Yummy food, especially the pasta! Nice atmosphere, great service. We loved it.

2/1/2015

I've been going to Topo Gigio for quite sometime. It's conveniently located near a myriad of entertaining venues and their food and service is generally sublime. Yet each time I've come lately the service and food quality has diminished.

My last occasion was the worst and will have me dining at the other nearby eateries more often. My girlfriend and I stopped in before a show with the intention of ordering a bottle of wine, eating a few appetizers and romantically sharing our entrees. We began our visit with a server aggressively offering to sit us in his section to avoid waiting. We enthusiastically accepted as he sat us by the door in the bar.

The meal started with us ordering two glasses of wine with the idea of perusing and pairing with our first appetizer while deciding on our bottle. While serving our appetizer, our server inadvertently broke my girlfriend's glass of Pinot Noir and most of it spilled on her custom blouse. We both were servers once upon a time so we understood and it was no big deal. Unfortunately the server continued to teasingly berate my girlfriend that it was due to her errant placement of her glass that caused his blunder. Once or twice, fine but it was constant, throughout our entire meal and painful as I watched her forcefully try to laugh it off. "Why were you tasting his wine?", "Why was it moved so close..." and so on. Had the busser not been there constantly making things better I would spoke my mind.

The food. We first quickly ordered the Carpaccio Piemontese and it arrived looking very different from what I remembered. Luckily our server broke some glass into it and presented us with a new one that was presented and tasted SPECTACULAR and how I remembered. I was REALLY looking forward to eating the antipasto freddo and the capesante con pesto but we moved onto ordering our pastas: fusilli and campanili and completely forgot to order the lamb. The campanili was delicious as usual but the fusilli was surprisingly dry as if sitting under a heating lamp too long. We ended our meal with my first time ordering gelato from here which was delicious. It ended up being completely melted because our server disappeared for an uncomfortable amount of time.

All in all everything ended up being plated well with large portions and tasting good enough for me to give this review three stars because it was 'eh-okay'. I'm disheartened that I would recommend other neighborhood eateries but I must. Perhaps their success has reduced its pressing need to be fresh and mannered but now there are definitely better venues.

7/11/2015

One of my favorite places to eat. Black linguini is the best. I could do without the calamari which is too crispy and dry.

12/4/2014

Friendly staff. Tasty sauces. Cute ambiance. No gluten free menu or options.
Two meals over done. Tilapia and Steak ordered medium rare. Both were so overdone! Like they were 5 day old reheated food. The worst I've ever had. We were starving. Food took awhile to come out, so we just ate what we could muster, and had to leave for a show.

7/1/2015

My partner and I went here during the Old Town arts festival, so it was extremely packed!  The hostess was really friendly and energetic about getting us a table.  We were sat on the patio and seen by our waiter promptly and he was quite professional and knowledgeable; attentive without being annoying.  We were enjoying our bread and olive oil and wine when it began to rain on us.  The entire waitstaff began to mobilize to find us an umbrella so that we could continue our meal! The food was excellent, I had the tortellini with a crème sauce and ham chunks, and my lady had the some beef with a red sauce and risotto.  The beef was tender and the sauce was a bit sweet and a bit tangy, a perfect dish!  The wine we had was a perfect pairing for our meal and was suggested by our waiter.  There was a bit of a dust up with a neighboring table and the hostess resulting in some threatening words being exchanged and those patrons being ejected.  We the thought it was amusing to me and my partner but the owner and the host apologized to us and offered us a free dessert, which we happily accepted!  Great food and a friendly family like atmosphere and professional staff!

10/18/2014

I ended up here with my friend after we unsuccessfully tried to go to another place that was closed. It was around 3 or 4pm on a Monday so many places nearby were closed. We sat outside and the service was great. We weren't starving so we shared a pasta dish with some wine - a great end to a great weekend in Chicago! Also it was really nice that the waiter told us we didn't have to pay the normal fee for sharing a dish that was listed on the menu. If I was in the neighborhood I'd go back.

8/9/2014

Let me start by saying that this one-star rating is solely for management; the wait staff is clearly hard working, friendly, and professional (as I suspect the kitchen staff is as well).

I have been coming here since I moved to town in 2012- for the most part we have enjoyed our meals here: good food, nice waitstaff. However, reservations are NEVER on time. Today was the last straw for me. We had a reservation for 8:30, and to be fair I was warned that we may not be seated until "a few minutes after our reservation time". That's fine, and quite frankly expected on a Saturday night in the city. What is not acceptable is when "a few minutes" turns into 40. When we were finally seated, we promptly warned our waiter that we had somewhere to be at 10:15 and would only be ordering entrees as a result of our time crunch. He said he would do his best, but warned that the kitchen was backed up. We didn't get our food until after 10:05pm (an hour and 35 minutes after or reservation time).

We ended up missing our plans at 10:15 , which was a bit upsetting. I didn't bother saying something to the waiter bc it was evident it was not his fault. Instead, I asked if there was a manager I could speak with on the way out. I spoke to the female manager (Ashley I think). I wasn't going to originally, but I felt it was only fair that I tell them directly before posting something online.

The manager I spoke with was, quite frankly , rude and unprofessional. I was careful to word my complaint in a productive and non-combative manner. She never once apologized for our inconvenience, all I received was an "ok". It was clear she didn't give a crap about her costumers. As we were walking out the other members in my group also commented on how rude she was. Prior to my incident with her this was going to be a 3 star review- but she cemented the1star rating.

It seems the management at Topo Gigio cares more about making an extra buck than they do about the experience of their customers. It would serve them well to hire a new manager (or at least train the current manager in how to actually manage and deal with customers in a productive, and professional manner). Sadly, I won't be going back until these issues are addressed. It is embarrassing to bring guests here only to have them stand waiting for their reservation, wait over an hour for food, and be treated rudely by management.

2/23/2015

One of the best cold seafood salad EVER!

4/8/2014

A very popular place, and it's easy to understand why, after you taste the food!  I was getting Rigatoni al Filo di Fumo (Rigatoni in Pomodoro Sauce, With Pancetta, Fresh Mozzarella and Fresh Basil, topped with Pecorino Cheese), but I was getting it to go and needed it packaged in two separate containers...they not only did it easily, they even packed the accompanying salad and bread in two separate containers, without me having to ask!  Thank you for smart folks with initiative!  The rigatoni was wonderful, and I sat at the crowded bar while I waited and saw and smelled all of the wonderful foods going by...I can't wait to go back!

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  INSALATA MISTA della CASA: Romaine & Curly Endive, with Tomato, Cucumbers, Walnuts, Black Raisins & Balsamic Vinaigrette

  INSALATA MISTA della CASA: Romaine & Curly Endive, with Tomato, Cucumbers, Walnuts, Black Raisins & Balsamic Vinaigrette

7/17/2013

Topo Gigio is easily one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to and is definitely one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Chicago.  The atmosphere is awesome-- tons of cool decorations inside, a covered outdoor area, and an additional back patio area. I don't think I've ever had to wait for a table. They serve bread while you're waiting, but make sure to save plenty of room for the main course!

My personal favorite is a special they have somewhat regularly: Black linguine with shrimp and I think scallops (and sometimes it comes with lobster tail). It is served in a light creamy tomato sauce and is absolutely to die for! The shrimp are massive and cooked perfectly-- normally I'm not a fan of large shrimp because of the texture, but these are awesome.  The serving is huge, so I almost always end up having leftovers.  I've also had to pesto pasta.  I love pesto and this dish is smothered in it...if the black linguine isn't available, this is my second go-to.  My friends have also gotten the sea bass (amazing!) and fettuccine Alfredo (just as good, super filling).  

If you're getting Italian in this city, no question: go to Topo Gigio.

1/6/2014

i figured if 425 people have reviewed this place, what's once more?

A good place as any to start your night out Wed- Sunday (6:30, 7PM)

Throw in some pasta and some good friends and that truly is a good time indeed. They have a good wine selection. That is probably an understatement.

It's a nice calm place to have a conversation or two. Apparently if you look on the wall, it has a signed pic of Jerry Seinfeld. I guess this means he says its ok to eat here. Thanks Jerry :)

Whenever I come here, Rudy The Bartender asks me if I will have the same thing as I had since the last time I was here. That guy has a good memory.
That type of service is hard to come by in big cities today.  

If you like veal, this is also a good place. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

3/26/2015

The exterior and interior gave an actual Italian feeling. It had a full bar which was a plus point. The service was top class. Ordered a Gnocchi...it was world class. Do check this restaurant.

1/13/2015

The last time I had dinner here I felt like they rushed us through the meal.  Entrees came out about 2 seconds after when got our starters and the busser was stalking our table, even tryed to take my plate when I still had the fork in hand with food on it and my plate.

That being said... this restaurant is a neighborhood favorite.  And the food is great!!

10/18/2014

Just perfect everything from the hostess to the dessert was spot on. If you are in the area this is a must. Even if you have a favorite Italian dish that is not on the menu they will make it for you.

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  Pumpkin ravioli

  Pumpkin ravioli
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  Carbonara

  Carbonara

11/11/2014

Very good. Great service. Great food...busy even on a Tuesday night. Highly recommend. Even half portion sizes available which were perfect.
If in the area of this restaurant I would definitely go here for good Italian food!

6/20/2014

A series of dining disasters led us to this restaurant on a night when we had tickets for Second City. The place was bustling outside when we arrived but nearly empty inside, so we opted for indoor seating. Our waiter was an older heavily-accented Italian gentleman who was brusque with us the minute I said I wasn't sure what wine I wanted, so that was fun. I actually decided against the wine altogether, in part because of his rudeness, and that just made things so much worse. Questions I asked about the menu were met with more rudeness and irritation; I was uncomfortable from the start. (Later, a family from Italy was seated near us and he LOVED them - they spoke Italian to each other and laughed and he was at their table every five seconds cracking jokes. So maybe our crime was NOT being Italian?)

It was a hot, sticky evening, and all of the food on the menu looked super-heavy - it just wasn't what I wanted. But, we were running out of time and so stuck around. My husband ordered the Conchiglie Alla Sarda while I opted for "Joe's Salad," which sounded like a bunch of wrong things that might just be right - it had everything from endive to raisins and avocado in it. I asked for the balsamic vinaigrette on the side.

When my dressing arrived, it was fully broken - a whole lot of oil with a few dark drops of balsamic in it. I was trying to stir it into something not broken when the waiter came back and asked me what was wrong. I told him the dressing wasn't mixed properly, and he took the spoon from me, stirred it a few times, then practically threw the spoon down and said, "That's what happens when you order it on the side." AND THEN WALKED AWAY.

I should note that I was expecting the salad itself to be more of a regular salad, or even chopped, but it was this large composed piece with like a wheel of fresh mozzarella on one side and hunks of avocado on the other. And it was on a plate so it was hard to incorporate things together. On the whole it was very bland, and a broken dressing didn't help.

At this point, the waiter threw a thing of balsamic vinegar down on our table and said, "Here, maybe you just want vinegar," and walked away again. This was my breaking point. I went and asked for a manager, at which point our waiter was suddenly up in my business, asking, "What's wrong, what did I do?" I told the manager that our waiter had been rude and that my salad was terrible. I asked for a to-go box for my husband's pasta and said I would not be paying for the salad. I did this all quietly, so as not to cause a scene, but the waiter kept saying, "I'm so sorry if I was rude, I didn't know, you didn't tell me, what can I do?"

He followed me back to the table, where I went to wait for my to-go box and the check, and kept saying, "How can I make this right? I make my living from you; if I've done something wrong, you should've told me, told ME, not go to the manager, what can I do to make it right?" I said I'd just pick at my husband's pasta (which was tasty, albeit as heavy as I feared), but the waiter insisted on bringing me something else. He asked me about what I liked and then decided to bring me a piece of chicken and some grilled asparagus. I kept saying not to bother but he insisted.

He put the order in and then proceeded to come back to our table every three seconds to apologize and tell us again that we're how he makes his living and we should've said something to him not the manager. It felt like a sketch we'd see at Second City after the meal!

The chicken and asparagus came out and were actually really good - the chicken was juicy and had a nice balance of lemon and garlic flavor. The asparagus was larger than I liked but the char on them made them yummy. This is, by the way, the ONLY reason I'm giving Topo Gigio two stars instead of one. After, the waiter kept saying, "Can I bring you some tiramisu? Oh, it'll be delicious, it's homemade, let me make this right." But we wanted to get to the show and by this point, my poor husband (who ate 75% of his pasta and half my dinner) was stuffed.

Here's the best part: When we got our check, the waiter actually charged us for the chicken and asparagus he insisted on "giving" me to "make things right." AND HE CHARGED US THREE FULL DOLLARS MORE THAN I WOULD'VE PAID FOR MY HORRIBLE SALAD. I looked at the bill and just started laughing. My husband was horrified and was waiting for me to say something, but sometimes you just have to let this stuff go, right?

I didn't even stiff him on the tip, because I'm like that. I just tipped closer to 18% than 20%+ (my usual). But seriously? What a classless move.

6/29/2014

First off, I love the atmosphere. Secondly, whenever my friend & I go to dinner we always get risotto, so we have some experience with it!  Their risotto came with filet, but since she is not a red meat eater, we opted for chicken instead. The waiter gave us that choice after explaining he didn't want to charge us $20 for a plate of just rice when we said we wouldn't be getting the filet. The waiter was really great by the way!  So the risotto was great, came in a tomato sauce with mushrooms and chunks of tomatoes. I myself would like to come back and try it with the filet.

7/16/2014

Topo Gigio is a staple in my restaurant repertoire.  It seems to be perfect for so many occasions.  The price point is excellent, particularly for out-of-towners who may be unaccustomed to spending Chicago prices on a nice meal.  Beyond this, the food and ambiance are exceptional!

Reservations can be made to be seated inside, however you cannot make reservations for dining outdoors.  While we chose to wait an additional 20-40 minutes to be seated outside, the hostess was attentive and providing frequent updates on timing, and the bar provided an excellent spot to enjoy a drink while we waited.  Sitting outside was well worth the wait!

Our table was charming and candlelit and the service was impeccable.  Our Italian waiter steered us towards an excellent, fairly priced wine and recommended a couple of his favorite dishes.  We indulged in grilled calamari, conchiglie alla sarda, and eggplant parmesan.  I am the first to critique any dish, and I can say that we did not draw a single criticism on any of the three.  The serving sizes were large and will provide a second meal for almost anyone.

Overall, another excellent experience at Topo Gigio and it will continue to be one of my favorites!

1/7/2014

I have been to Topo Gigio at least seven times in the past several years.  I never miss an opportunity to go.  Every year, I go to the Zoo Lights at LPZ with my friend and our moms, but I think the real tradition has become to go to Topo Gigio.  It is delicious!

I have two "go to" dishes: tortellini alla panna and spaghetti ai frutti de mare.  The tortellini is served in a cream sauce with prosciutto and peas (I order without the peas because I hate them).  The spaghetti has TONS of seafood.  I ordered it for the first time last year and thought they were giving me a lot because it was the end of the night and they wanted to get rid of everything, but no.  I ordered it on my most recent trip and I still got a TON of seafood.

Their specials are excellent too.  You honestly can't go wrong with anything on the menu.  You are served bread, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese at the beginning of your meal, a definite fave of mine.

So why not five stars if I have so much love for the place?  The service is sometimes great, other times it's less than stellar.  On my most recent trip, our server was not very attentive.  We noticed he was paying significantly more attention to the larger party next to us (7 or 8 people versus 4) who were drinking wine.  Not okay.

I'd highly encourage anyone in Old Town to stop by.  Try the al fresco seating when it gets warm out!  The patio out back is really cute!

12/28/2014

I have been going to Topo Gigio for over 20 years. It's a place that consistently gets better every time I go. Last night we ate there with family. We decided to go last minute. I called a few hours ahead and although there were no reservations available, the hostess said that we could come in as walk-ins and that she'd do her best for us. We arrived at 6:30. We were greeted by Ashley (the hostess), who remembered my name from our earlier conversation. She said that she would have a table inside (they have a heated patio outside) but that it would be a little bit of a wait. This is a blessing in disguise because the people watching in Old Town and Topo Gigio is so much fun. So we hung out and watched the world go by as the place was packed. There was an incredible vibe and we were right in the middle of it while waiting for our table. Every 5-10 minutes Ashley checked in with us and gave us a status update. Her communication was first class. When our wait exceeded her expectation, we were each treated to a glass of wine. Shortly after receiving the wine our table was ready.

We were seated right in the middle of the restaurant with great views in every direction. The waiter was fantastic and knew the menu very well. The classic Tuscan menu was diverse. Our food arrived and the plates were beautifully prepared. Dessert was incredible too, especially the Tiramisu in a bowl! Genius. On our way out, we were thanked for our business by the waiter, the manager, and Ashley the hostess. The overall experience was exactly what it has always been for me- perfect.

1/5/2013

My family. They're not Italian, but they like to pretend. My mom tries to say the names of pastas and cheeses with a phony-ass Italian accident that'll drive you up a F*cking wall. She lives off pasta, lives for pizza and pretty much can't get enough of any vegetable deep dried and served with a side of marinara and grated cheese.

I, on the other hand, am just not into all that jazz. I can't appreciate Frank Sinatra and Italian food is my least favorite cuisine. I can't stand pasta. White sauce makes me gag. Spaghetti is tied for my #1 most hated food along with custard. I can't stand desserts with lemon incorporated into them with the exception of Italian Ice, in which lemon is the only acceptable flavor in my book, but somehow, I really, truly enjoyed Topo Gigio.

I was the first of my group to arrive and was promptly excited to see they offer valet right in front the restaurant so I didn't have to park in one of the areas grossly over-rated parking garages, though the valet service only runs until 10pm. I walked into the bar area with indoor/outdoor heat lamps blazing, working hard to defrost my freezing and chapped flesh. Oooh it felt so good. The customers and bartenders looked at me as if I'd actually gotten that face tattoo I'd wanted when I was a kid. Not sure if it's because I was about 40 years younger than anyone else there, or just because I'm a generally odd-looking fellow, but I definitely felt like an outsider walking into a small town bar.

I continued to the rear and then through to the left restaurant side of TG to claim our group of eight's table. Our server promptly greeted me, with his thick old-world Italian accent and treated me as if I was neighborhood youngster who might be friends with his grandchildren, which sounds more condescending than it's meant to- he was warm, welcoming and wanted to be sure I was comfortable in what was obviously my first TG dining experience.

I got a glass of their very best and only house Chianti because I don't know much about wine beyond that I like it red and to come with a good Silence of the Lambs reference and for my meal I opted out of pasta as it's not really my thing, plus I was still pretty full from my earlier lunch, and got the grilled calamari appetizer. It was about the size you'd expect for it to be as an appetizer and though it was a bit on the chewy side, the char-grilled flavor really out-shined any lesser qualities of the cephalopod and with just a squish of lemon, it was light, yet filling and exactly what I was looking for following the aforementioned (monster) lunch I'd eaten.  

I'd also got to try a bit of my of the Campanlle alla Norma (see pics) which was probably one of the best pastas this self-proclaimed pasta hater has ever tried. I'd make that dish my one exception to the rule, for sure. Oh, and the past portions are mountainous. An appetizer and one pasta portion is definitely enough for two.

I can see myself taking my mom and/or grandma here for a meal in the future as I know this is right up their Italian-American-loving alley.

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  Campanelle alla Norma - campanelle pasta in arrabiata sauce with sautéed eggplant and aged ricotta cheese - $12.95

  Campanelle alla Norma - campanelle pasta in arrabiata sauce with sautéed eggplant and aged ricotta cheese - $12.95
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  Calamari alla Griglia - grilled calamari sautéed with lemon & wine sauce - $11.95

  Calamari alla Griglia - grilled calamari sautéed with lemon & wine sauce - $11.95
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  Grilled calamari

  Grilled calamari

2/22/2013

Found this place through Chicago Yelpers. Great choice.

Service:  I want to start with the service because it was excellent. We Got service and a quick sitting for two on a for crowded place. The restaurant was very packed.   THe waiter was very attentive for all of his tables. 5/5

Food: Started w the grilled calamari and prosciutto - Calamari was a bit over cooked but well seasoned. The prosciutto appetizer was great.  I got the  veal for dinner - it was again over cooked.  But it was very well seasoned. However, The spinach  cooked well on the bottom of the veal. For dessert,  I  Got a homemade tiramisu!  Yum, it was really good.  Overall, the pricing of the food was right on point. I have no complain.  4/5

Atmosphere: It was very well decorated.  this place was jamming for a super busy Friday night.  However, the tables are so close to each other. You have tug your stomach in to walk to the bathroom. You can easily ease-drop people conversation. But they set up those table like that because they wanted to fit more people.   3.5/5

Overall, I am coming back here to try their pizza and other dishes.  good place in old town.

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  Veal!

  Veal!
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  Prosciutto w bruschetta!

  Prosciutto w bruschetta!
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  Grilled calamari

  Grilled calamari

1/30/2015

Delicious Italian food. Ordered spaghetti and meatballs and it did not disappoint! Fresh breads and salads and an unforgettable olive oil! Authentic Italian!

4/28/2014

Solid Italian restaurant that you can bring a date, girlfriends, or older traditional folks. The portions are pretty huge, the pasta is made in house (and you can really taste the difference). I had a seafood pasta with tomato sauce in fettuccini and loved it. I sampled mushroomy pastas from my dining companions and also loved that. If you're scratching your head for a place to dine, this is a solid 'traditional' choice.

2/28/2015

Finally made it to Topo Grigio this weekend for Friday dinner. Glad we made reservations as it was packed when we walked in! We were seated to a 2 top table by the front window by the bar.. Which was great as it seemed really loud in the main area of the restaurant! We were greeted with water and fresh warm bread right away. The waiter recommended an Italian red that we both loved - very generous pours and so reasonably priced! We both had the Conchiglelie Alla Sarda and it was unreal. Definitely enough to take home and great for lunch the next day. Great service, great menu, and good atmosphere minus the noise level. Can't wait to to back soon to try more of the menu!!

7/20/2014

The food here was WONDERFUL and the service from the man at the bar outside was also top notch. That's the only thing which saved this review from going south quickly. Our server was very fine, nothing out of the ordinary, but seemed to rush us through dinner. When I called to make a reservation the hostess was SUPER rude and lived up to her personality when we came in.

We arrived 15 mins early and after checking in I noted we would wait outside for our table. She made me feel stupid that I even thought our table would be ready and not 2 minutes later she rushed out to say "you better take the table that just opened or I can't guarantee you'll have a spot, we're filling up." (No sh*t hunny, but that's why I made a reservation. Slow your roll.) Just not the way to make a guest feel warm and welcome on a very busy Saturday night.

5/15/2015

Great red sauce Italian restaurant! The prices for the value and quantity of the food is great. The 2 times I have been there, I had the waiter make dishes which weren't on the menu. Fairly descent priced wine menu too.